We may not be able to go out into the world, but there are ways of bringing the world into our homes. Who says that picture books are just for kids? Set one of these beautiful photo books on your coffee table and you'll instantly inject a dose of travel inspiration into your living room.
From bustling cityscapes and tourist-loved landmarks to soaring cliffs and steaming hot springs – not to mention more than a few adorable animal shots – these photo collections are waiting to sweep you off your feet.
They say a picture is worth a 1000 words, and these photos have stories to tell. Turn the page and let yourself get lost.
Yellowstone: A Land of Wild and Wonder
Christopher Cauble
Up from 24 animals in 1902, the thousands of American bison add 10-17 per cent to their numbers each year. Managing this population is one of the park’s greatest challenges.
Christopher Cauble
The Grand Prismatic Spring is both the largest spring in the U.S. and the most photographed feature in the park.
Christopher Cauble
Pronghorns can sustain speeds up to 70 km/h over long distances. Yellowstone is in the middle of their range from Mexico north to Canada.
Christopher Cauble
Nine different species of conifers are part of Yellowstone’s diverse plant ecosystem.
Christopher Cauble
At nearly 9,000 square kilometres, it can be difficult to get anything more detailed than an overview of the world’s oldest national park. In his new book, published by Riverbend, Cauble zooms in on the park’s wildlife and natural beauty. He ably captures Yellowstone’s rugged strength and fragile interdependent connections.
$29.88, amazon.ca
Find Momo Across Europe
Andrew Knapp
Completed in 1929 for the Ibero-American Exhibition, the Plaza de Espana is one of Seville’s most grandiose spaces.
Andrew Knapp
On the streets of Brussels, Knapp photographs a street performer, while Momo watches from afar.
Andrew Knapp
This is one of three main canals, dug in the 17th century, that flow through Amsterdam.
Andrew Knapp
Knapp snapped a shot of Momo riding the tube, London’s elaborate underground public transit system.
Andrew Knapp
The intriguing architecture in this photo actually belongs to a parking garage – it’s the Hydro Multi Storey Car Park in central Glasgow, Scotland.
Andrew Knapp
From photographer, designer and world traveller Andrew Knapp comes Find Momo Across Europe. The latest in the Find Momo series follows the beloved border collie as he travels through Europe (along with his human, Knapp). Covering 22 countries, Knapps’s photos capture sweeping landscapes, bustling cities and iconic landmarks – and Momo hiding in every picture. Along with 144 pages of “aww”-some Momo photos, Knapp shares dog-friendly highlights and stories from the duo’s travels.
$14.80, amazon.ca
Climbing Rock
Jesse Lynch
In El Potrero Chico, Mexico, dizzying views surround Van Vu as he mounts the precipice of the two-pitch spire, Uber Machismo.
Jesse Lynch
Considered the birthplace of American sport climbing, Smith Park, Oregon is where you’ll find Churning in the Wake, this incredibly popular route shown being scaled by Lukas Strauss-Wise.
Jesse Lynch
Jacopo Larcher is in for a five-day ascent, climbing the 3,000-foot-tall face of El Capitan in Yosemite.
Jesse Lynch
After a day spent scaling Moonlight Buttress, Ethan Pringle and Tiffany Hensley rest on a portaledge.
Jesse Lynch
In this over-250-page photo book, rock climber Jesse Lynch and photographer Francois Lebeau capture experts taking on some of nature’s most formidable formations. The stunning photos of monolithic landscapes were shot across North America and feature various ascents, both big and small, in every season. Filled with enthralling images of incredible feats, Climbing Rock takes you on a captivating journey, whether you’re an experienced climber yourself or a novice who wants to live vicariously through others (we’ll let you guess which camp we fall in).
$67.50, chapters.indigo.ca
Born to Ice
Paul Nicklen
In the Ross Sea in Antarctica, an emperor penguin releases bubbles from its feathers to speed up to the surface.
Paul Nicklen
Paul Nicklen captures the melting ice-water that pours over the edge of the Nordaustlandet ice cap in Svalbard, Norway.
Paul Nicklen
While migrating through Nunavut, these narwhals gather in the cracks between the ice to surface and feed on polar cod.
Paul Nicklen
Paul Nicklen was inside a tiny cabin waiting out a blizzard when a curious polar bear approached his window.
Paul Nicklen
Ocean conservationist, TED Talks speaker and award-winning photographer Paul Nicklen shares his deep love for the arctic in Born to Ice. Published by teNeues, this captivating photography book features images of breathtaking scenery and close-ups with wildlife, mixed in with Nicklen’s captivating storytelling and a powerful call to action. Having grown up on Baffin Island in a small Inuit settlement, Nicklen has a deep connection to these polar regions that can be felt in every photo.
$162, amazon.ca
Los Angeles
Serge Ramelli
This unusual perspective on the iconic Hollywood sign depicts the enchanting glow of the city with the placid water of the Hollywood reservoir on the right.
Serge Ramelli
A nearly empty street lined with elegant palm trees is instantly recognizable as the upscale Beverly Hills neighbourhood.
Serge Ramelli
Serge Ramelli captured this image of a lone jogger, surrounded by the lush greenery of Hollywood Hills.
Serge Ramelli
After releasing books on Paris, New York and Venice, French photographer Serge Ramelli’s fourth book with publishing house teNeues takes readers on a visual journey of Los Angeles. Over 80 vibrant photographs, in colour as well as black and white, transport readers to the seductive streets of LA – a city of iconic scenery and stark contrasts. In Los Angeles, Ramelli captures the film industry capital of the world and makes us feel like we’re right there where the magic happens.
$100.95, teneues.com
Depart
Sizoo Brothers and Friends
This eye-catching shot, by photographer Daniel Chaney, depicts Cape Kiwanda the southernmost of the points on the Three Capes Scenic Loop on Oregon’s coast.
Daniel Chaney
Photographer Fran Venter captured this enchanting shot of South Africa’s Blyde River Canyon when the sun briefly broke through the clouds on an overcast day.
Fran Venter
French photographer Julien Pelletier woke up before sunrise to get this beautiful shot of Kvalvika Beach in Norway’s Lofoten Islands.
Julien Pelletier
Although Norwegian photographer Stian Servoss’s homeland is known for its striking natural scenery, he was mesmerized by the landscapes of Iceland’s rugged southern coast.
Stian Servoss
Depart is a collection of inspiring travel photos by over 40 photographers from across the globe. Selected by Instagram heavyweights the Sizoo Brothers, in collaboration with Mendo Books, Depart transports readers to some of the world’s most captivating destinations through hundreds of colourful photos. It also has practical information on the journeys.
$55.12, amazon.ca
